Newburn River Run – 19th June 2024
by Amanda Taylor
Hosted by Elswick Harriers, the Newburn River Run is a 5 mile out and back course, it’s as flat as a pancake and uses the tarmac path along the Newburn Riverside park and Wylam Wagonway and it’s such a pretty route.
I had no idea who else from the club might be there but as I was waiting in the queue at the Newburn Activity Centre to collect my bib I spied Jayne H, Denyse H and Paul W and there was me thinking I might be first home for Crook. As we were chatting Paul said he thought Stan might be coming up as well so I knew then, for a solid fact, I’d not be first Crookite back and you know how I like my little wins.
Anyway, it was a 7pm kick off so Denyse and I went for a bit of a warm up/catch up for 20 minutes or so before we headed for the start line, which was about 600m from the Centre, for the 6.55pm briefing. Over 250 runners bolted off and of course I made my usual mistake of trying to keep up instead of pacing myself sensibly so ran my first mile in 7:30 which is too fast for me but it flew over and I was soon settling in to mile 2 which was considerably slower at 7.48 but more like it and a pace that would ensure I reached the finish.
Got into a bit of a tussle with a young Elswick lass who kept overtaking me then slowing down directly in front of me so I was almost running into the back of her then I’d get my foot down to get past her again and this continued but occupied my mind till we reached the turn back at 2.5 mile when I managed to get clear of her but then spotted Jayne H hot on my heels. She was approaching the turn just as I’d come out of it so we passed each other with only seconds in it at that point. We gave each other an encouraging shout but I was already starting to flag, it was so hot at 18° and while the trees did provide a bit of shade it was still very humid. My 3rd and 4th miles were each 7:56 and I was starting to see stars but also aware that Jayne and Paul weren’t far behind and Denyse not much further behind them so I kicked on. I really thought I might pass out at one point (Drama Queen).
The last mile went on forever and I can’t really remember much about it, it was just one foot in front of the other and try to hold my pace but I actually managed a 7:44 so it was the 2nd fastest mile of the race. How? The threat of Hendo whizzing past me, that’s how. I finished in 38:38 which was over 4 minutes quicker than when I last ran it in 2022 in a time of 42:43 and I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t have done that had Jayne not been after me….cheers mate and well done to you, Paul and Denyse. As it turned out Stan didn’t show so I did get my 1st Crookite home after all…little wins!
Before the race I’d been telling the others about the post race supper which included home made pie, cake and sandwiches as it had in the past but when we got back to the Centre there was no such luxuries however, we did get a lovely tub of ice cream which was more than welcome on such a hot night.
Get yourselves there next year, it’s a great race and the Elswick Harriers lot are a lovely bunch.
Amanda 38:38 1st FV50
Jayne 39:11 3rd FV50
Paul 39:51
Denyse 40:45
Amanda T
